Michael Jackson

The court scheduled the consolidated civil trial against MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures for 14 February 2028, following discovery delays.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

Four members of the Cascio family filed a new public lawsuit accusing Jackson of abuse and grooming and challenging the scope of the earlier confidential agreement.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

The estate-backed biopic was criticised for focusing on Jackson's career while omitting abuse allegations that form a significant part of contemporary debate about his legacy.

State of the evidence

Documented

The estate reached an agreement worth approximately $16.5 million with five members of the Cascio family after they made abuse allegations. Payments continued until 2025, with the agreement described as an acquisition of life rights and containing confidentiality obligations.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Accused

A California appeals court overturned the dismissals and held that Jackson's companies could, as a matter of law, have owed the boys a duty of protection.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

The HBO documentary 'Leaving Neverland' brought Robson's and Safechuck's detailed accounts to a global audience, prompting withdrawals from programming, cultural debate and a counter-campaign by the estate.

State of the evidence

Documented

James Safechuck alleged that Jackson had sexually abused him when he was a child and brought legal proceedings against entities associated with the singer.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Accused

Jackson's mother and children sued AEG Live, alleging that the promoter had negligently hired Conrad Murray. After several months of trial, the jury rejected the claim.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Wade Robson, who had previously defended Jackson, alleged after Jackson's death that he had been sexually abused over several years as a child and brought proceedings against the estate and subsequently Jackson's companies.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Accused

A jury found Dr Conrad Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter, concluding that his medically negligent conduct was a substantial factor in Jackson's death.

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

Jackson died while preparing for the 'This Is It' tour. The investigation revealed that propofol and other sedatives had been administered in a domestic setting to treat his insomnia.

State of the evidence

Documented

Person targeted by the proceedings

Conrad Murray

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In 'Living with Michael Jackson', Jackson defended occasions when unrelated children slept in his bedroom, explaining that he saw nothing sexual in such arrangements. The documentary triggered substantial public concern and renewed prosecutorial attention.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

After the broadcast, Jackson accused Bashir and Granada of producing a misleading portrayal. He released footage in which Bashir praised his parenting and Neverland, and made complaints to British regulators.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Directly implicated

Jackson briefly held his young son over the railing of a fourth-floor hotel balcony in Berlin to show him to fans, provoking international condemnation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the 1995 apology, Anti-Defamation League officials criticised Jackson for the broadcast of a video version that again contained the original terms he had promised to change.

State of the evidence

Documented

Jewish organisations condemned the use of antisemitic terms in 'They Don't Care About Us'. Jackson maintained that the song was intended specifically to denounce racism and prejudice.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Jackson reached a civil settlement worth several million dollars with the Chandler family while denying the allegations. Prosecutors continued investigating after the settlement.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Accused

The family of 13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse. Authorities in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara opened investigations, and civil proceedings were initiated.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused